Harley-Davidson Sells “Lightning” Trademark Use To Apple

Sure they advertise it for $199, but the basic version has such limited storage most buy the 32 gig model for $299. And then there’s $131.72 for AppleCare and you’ll need a case. If you haven’t dropped a phone in water then you don’t own one.

A lot of people are into this cell phone for nearly five hundred dollars. FIVE HUNDRED!

And then there’s the case. Gotta have a case. You’ll want that investment protected.

Then there’s the cables… people have a plethora of the old 30 pin jobs lying around, but … now you’ll need LIGHTNING. And they’re $29 apiece!

And speaking of LIGHTNING… Next to the YMCA in Ann Arbor, Michigan there is a rather nondescript building which is the HQ for Harley-Davidson intellectual property holding company called H-D Michigan, LLC.

On Thanksgiving day Apple purchased and secured use of the European trademark for LIGHTNING from Harley-Davidson. The “LIGHTNING” term, which Apple uses to reference the connector for the new iPhone 5, was partially-transferred to Apple, according to the Trade Marks and Design Office of the European Union. TMDO documents show that the Harley-Davidson-owned trademark No. 003469541 was partially transferred to Apple under trademark No. 011399862.

The TMDO defines a partial transfer as a transfer of the term for use in a limited number of goods or services, which suggests that Harley-Davidson will still be able to use the term. Harley-Davidson’s trademark lists clothing and outerwear as the goods and services for its trademark, while Apple’s trademark lists a variety of “games and playthings.” Terms of the transfer were not revealed.

The EU trademark won’t apply in the U.S., and ownership of the U.S. trademark appears to be in limbo. A U.S. trademark application for Lightning was submitted by the Lightning Car Company in January 2011, however the March 2012 notice for allowance of the application was canceled on September 13.

3 Responses

“most buy the 32 gig model for $299”? Really? And you know that…how exactly? I work in the industry and I can tell you for a fact that Apple has never said how many of each individual model they have sold. So unless they guys who sell it say it, you shouldn’t just make stuff up.

“And then there’s $131.72 for AppleCare and you’ll need a case.”

Really? Did someone *make* you buy AppleCare? Was it forced on you? Did someone hold you down, tear your credit card out of your wallet and make you sign a receipt?

I’ve had iPhones since the very first day they came out and I’ve *never* bought AppleCare and *never* used a case so…no..you don’t *have* to get either.

“A lot of people are into this cell phone for nearly five hundred dollars.”

I’m into mine for $200. Your math sucks.

And finally, not sure what your little rant about iPhones and their cost has to do with Harley-Davidson selling Apple a trademark but maybe you should stick to bike news because your ability to write about the iPhone is severely limited.

As you can see “most” (55%) people are buying up from the basic model that you purchased and are so proud of.

I do agree that extended warranties are B.S. But not on a phone. If you haven’t dropped your phone in a puddle, the lake (or the toilet!) you don’t have one. Maybe your handling techniques are better than most people, but water damage is rampant. If you ARE in the industry you’d already know that. I’ve killed a BlackBerry and others this way. I can get a brand new phone for $49. I can go for that.

I don’t know if you ride, but if did then you know it’s not outrageous to think that a phone being used for navigation (or camera) while on your motorcycle could get dropped. I’ve seen it happen.

And finally, maybe you should stick to Apple news sites and stop reading motorcycle sites.

“I could have worded it better like “most people buy at 32GB and above”.” ure but it wouldn’t have been any more factually correct.

“AllThingsD reported that 4S models sold particularly well” So? What difference does that make to the discussion? As you said right off the top, “I’m talking about the iPhone 5.”

And from your own link, “Though Apple declined to break down iPhone sales by model…” Apple simply doesn’t do it. So *NO ONE* knows how many of each model Apple has sold. Full stop. End of story.

“If you haven’t dropped your phone in a puddle, the lake (or the toilet!) you don’t have one.”

That’s simply ridiculous. I’ve had an iPhone within arm’s reach 24/7 since the fist day they went on sale and none of the above has ever happened. *Millions* of people have had iPhones and *millions* of people have never had what you describe happen.

Does it happen? Sure it does. But your claims are patently silly.

“Maybe your handling techniques are better than most people, but water damage is rampant.”

LMAO You have zero data to back that up.

“I’ve killed a BlackBerry and others this way.”

So? What relevance does that have? No one is saying that if you drop an iPhone in the toilet, it will magically be pristine. What I’m saying is it’s not the catastrophic issue you are trying to make it seem.

“I don’t know if you ride…”

2005 Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe. 2008 Yamaha FJR 1300.

“not outrageous to think that a phone being used for navigation (or camera) while on your motorcycle could get dropped. I’ve seen it happen.”

So have I. Again, not seeing the relevance. If you think AppleCare would help, they you don’t know what AppleCare is. It will *not* protect you or your phone from damages *you* cause. So in the situations you are describing, you are wasting your money on AppleCare.

“maybe you should stick to Apple news sites and stop reading motorcycle sites.”

And why is that? Because you don’t like being criticized or corrected? Here’s the solution – get your facts straight and you won’t have that problem. Simple.